•Anambra gov pledges support for president-elect
Anambra State governor, Willy Obiano, yesterday solicited appointments for Ndigbo in the government of the President-elect, General Muhammadu Buhari.
The governor, who made the request when he visited General Buhari at his residence in Abuja, promised to support General Buhari’s administration, just as he denied reports that he was planning to dump his party, the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA).
Speaking with newsmen shortly after the meeting with General Buhari, Governor Obiano said he has already adopted the spirit of change in the governance of his state and will work in collaboration with the president-elect to ensure that the welfare of Nigerians is protected.
Obiano’s All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) was one of the political parties that publicly endorsed President Goodluck Jonathan for a second term bid.
Speaking on his meeting with the president-elect, Obiano said that he discussed the appointment of citizens of Anambra State in particular, and the South East in general into the new government.
He said: “I came to congratulate His Excellency, the President-elect on his victory. I am also here to reassure him that Anambra and the South East will support him. I also pleaded with him on some pressing projects that are of major importance to the people of the South East, like the second Niger bridge and some of the federal roads.
“I also did mention the area of appointments for Anambra people in particular and the people of the south-east in general, be it ambassadorial, ministerial and others. Basically, it is to congratulate the President-elect on his well deserve victory.”
Asked if the visit was in line with the change that is going round the land at the moment, he said, “I am a focused governor. Under my tenure, I brought change to security in Anambra State and I am always going to support things that bring about change and to improve the well-being of the people of Anambra and Nigerians.”
When reminded that the APC has leaders in the South East who should be speaking for them in terms of appointment, he said, “Most of the APC leaders in the south-east have actually visited me and we are talking. I suspect that the President-elect is not going to offer appointment only to people from his party. Everybody supported him, and therefore, I am pleading that he considers people from the other parties so that we can all embrace the change.”
While denying any plan to join the APC, the governor said, “It is not correct to say I might join the APC. I will remain with APGA and work very closely with the president. I will give him 100 percent support.”